Goodwill and Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Text Block]

6. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Accounting rules require goodwill to be tested for impairment annually and when an event occurs indicating the possibility that an impairment exists. The annual impairment test for the $169.0 million of GMO acquisition goodwill was conducted on September 1, 2012. The goodwill impairment test is a two step process. The first step compares the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill, to identify potential impairment. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, the second step of the test is performed, consisting of assignment of the reporting unit's fair value to its assets and liabilities to determine an implied fair value of goodwill, which is compared to the carrying amount of goodwill to determine the impairment loss, if any, to be recognized in the financial statements. Great Plains Energy's regulated electric utility operations are considered one reporting unit for assessment of impairment, as they are included within the same operating segment and have similar economic characteristics. The determination of fair value of the reporting unit consisted of two valuation techniques: an income approach consisting of a discounted cash flow analysis and a market approach consisting of a determination of reporting unit invested capital using market multiples derived from the historical revenue, EBITDA, net utility asset values and market prices of stock of electric and gas company regulated peers. The results of the two techniques were evaluated and weighted to determine a point within the range that management considered representative of fair value for the reporting unit. Fair value of the reporting unit exceeded the carrying amount, including goodwill; therefore, there was no impairment of goodwill.

Great Plains Energy's and KCP&L's intangible assets are included in electric utility plant on the consolidated balance sheets and are detailed in the following table.



		December 31, 2012							December 31, 2011
	Gross Carrying Amount			Accumulated Amortization				Gross Carrying Amount			Accumulated Amortization
Great Plains Energy	(millions)
Computer software		$	211.2		$	(152.9	)		$	202.5		$	(143.5	)
Asset improvements		26.5			(4.2		)		27.0			(3.7		)

KCP&L
Computer software		$	189.9		$	(142.9	)		$	171.7		$	(129.9	)
Asset improvements		11.2			(0.8		)		11.7			(0.6		)

Great Plains Energy's and KCP&L's amortization expense related to intangible assets is detailed in the following table.



	2012		2011
	(millions)
Great Plains Energy	$	15.6	$	13.5
KCP&L	13.2		12.6

The following table provides the estimated amortization expense related to Great Plains Energy's and KCP&L's intangible assets for 2013 through 2017 for the intangible assets included in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2012.



	2013		2014		2015		2016		2017
	(millions)
Great Plains Energy	$	14.5	$	11.1	$	8.8	$	7.4	$	4.1
KCP&L	11.9		8.6		6.5		5.2		3.6

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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